Church camp always provided a little bit of entertainment and a few headaches for the counselors, of which my mother was one for several years.
Upon arrival at Siloam Springs, our group of girls from the big, red brick church down the street from the post office, could hardly wait to be assigned a dorm. Having been there before, most of us knew whichever one we were residing in for those two weeks (yes, it was two weeks then, and not the five days it is now), we could count on the weather being either hot, cold, rainy or stormy.
The dorms, with open air screens all around and just enough holes for the mosquitoes and flies to find their way in, awaited us at the end of the long climb to the top of Girls Hill. Upon arriving, it was a mad scramble to claim your bunk. If the weather forecast was for hot weather, we all wanted the top bunk ; rainy with cold nights, we scrambled for the bottom bunks. And, of course, you wanted your best friend to occupy the bunk across from you so you could giggle and whisper to each other after lights out. Of course, some of us discovered the top bunk was always the best because, occasionally, someone in the top bunk would be sick and throw up, usually right on the bottom bunk.
This particular year, we were blessed (and I use that word lightly) with a group of girls from south Arkansas , who came without a counselor. They all huddled together on one side of the room in the bunks closest to the door. The beds could be "unbunked" so my mother chose the unbunked bed closest to the door on the opposite side. She introduced herself to the girls, who were all middle-aged teenagers and older than most of our group. Then, very politely, they introduced themselves to her and to the rest of us. Oh, it was going to be fun having these very pretty, older girls in our dorm. Little did we know then just how much fun.
After the evening worship in the open air tabernacle and a trip to the Snack Shack, everyone headed to their dorms for a devotional time before lights out. Two of the older girls offered to lead the devotional and my mother was thrilled. Our prayers were said and we all settled down for what we thought would be a restful night.
About midnight, my mother was awakened by giggling and a "Shhhhhhh......quite", whispered near her.
"Where are you girls headed ?" Mother said.
Startled, one of them said,
"Oh, well, we needed to use the restroom."
"Okay, just a minute and I'll go with you." Mother said as she searched for her houseshoes and flashlight.
Off down the hill the four of them went; Mother leading the way with her flashlight. After the trip to the restroom, the four of them trudged back up the hill.
All was quiet for a time and then there was more whispering. Opening her eyes and flipping on her flashlight, Mother caught three of those same older girls sneaking out the door. Immediately the girls ran back to their their bunks with a stern warning from my Mother that night time was for sleeping not sneaking. Soon it was quiet again.
My mother was a very kind, gentle and patient woman but her motto was "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me". So, after the three girls were settled in bed, I heard a noise that sounded like something scraping across the floor. I sat up in bed; looked toward the screen door and my 5' 2" little Mother was slowly, but surely pushing her iron bed in front of the door, completely blocking the exit. As soon as her mission was completed, she removed her houseshoes, crawled back into bed, pulled up the covers and all was well the rest of the night. Oh, and for the remainder of camp I might add.
How often do we think we can fool our pastor, parents, our spouses, our children or our friends? We may fool everyone for a time; maybe even forever but we will never fool our Maker.
"Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you."
Psalm 139:7-12 NIV
Upon arrival at Siloam Springs, our group of girls from the big, red brick church down the street from the post office, could hardly wait to be assigned a dorm. Having been there before, most of us knew whichever one we were residing in for those two weeks (yes, it was two weeks then, and not the five days it is now), we could count on the weather being either hot, cold, rainy or stormy.
The dorms, with open air screens all around and just enough holes for the mosquitoes and flies to find their way in, awaited us at the end of the long climb to the top of Girls Hill. Upon arriving, it was a mad scramble to claim your bunk. If the weather forecast was for hot weather, we all wanted the top bunk ; rainy with cold nights, we scrambled for the bottom bunks. And, of course, you wanted your best friend to occupy the bunk across from you so you could giggle and whisper to each other after lights out. Of course, some of us discovered the top bunk was always the best because, occasionally, someone in the top bunk would be sick and throw up, usually right on the bottom bunk.
This particular year, we were blessed (and I use that word lightly) with a group of girls from south Arkansas , who came without a counselor. They all huddled together on one side of the room in the bunks closest to the door. The beds could be "unbunked" so my mother chose the unbunked bed closest to the door on the opposite side. She introduced herself to the girls, who were all middle-aged teenagers and older than most of our group. Then, very politely, they introduced themselves to her and to the rest of us. Oh, it was going to be fun having these very pretty, older girls in our dorm. Little did we know then just how much fun.
After the evening worship in the open air tabernacle and a trip to the Snack Shack, everyone headed to their dorms for a devotional time before lights out. Two of the older girls offered to lead the devotional and my mother was thrilled. Our prayers were said and we all settled down for what we thought would be a restful night.
About midnight, my mother was awakened by giggling and a "Shhhhhhh......quite", whispered near her.
"Where are you girls headed ?" Mother said.
Startled, one of them said,
"Oh, well, we needed to use the restroom."
"Okay, just a minute and I'll go with you." Mother said as she searched for her houseshoes and flashlight.
Off down the hill the four of them went; Mother leading the way with her flashlight. After the trip to the restroom, the four of them trudged back up the hill.
All was quiet for a time and then there was more whispering. Opening her eyes and flipping on her flashlight, Mother caught three of those same older girls sneaking out the door. Immediately the girls ran back to their their bunks with a stern warning from my Mother that night time was for sleeping not sneaking. Soon it was quiet again.
My mother was a very kind, gentle and patient woman but her motto was "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me". So, after the three girls were settled in bed, I heard a noise that sounded like something scraping across the floor. I sat up in bed; looked toward the screen door and my 5' 2" little Mother was slowly, but surely pushing her iron bed in front of the door, completely blocking the exit. As soon as her mission was completed, she removed her houseshoes, crawled back into bed, pulled up the covers and all was well the rest of the night. Oh, and for the remainder of camp I might add.
How often do we think we can fool our pastor, parents, our spouses, our children or our friends? We may fool everyone for a time; maybe even forever but we will never fool our Maker.
"Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you."
Psalm 139:7-12 NIV
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